Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-06-24
avashia9te'' Standard
THE HOUSE ON THE MARSH;
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
CHAPTER III.

III WttSt6Nt VI ts'@ N6O@'NSs
II 1Lo1xNC1 WARDH.
CHAPTER III.
The shock given me by those few
overheard words You should not
have spoken to her. Don't you know
she comes from the house on the
so great that l lay
awake half the night. asking myself
it would be- wise to stay in
house to which it was plain that
mystery of some sort was clinging.
At last, when my nerves were Gained
somewhat and l began to feel sleepy.
made up my mind to set down those
words as the prejudiced utter
ance of some narrow-minded country
girl, to whom the least touch of uncon-
seemed dreadful thing.
Although Geldham church was only
. short distance from the Alders. Mrs.
Rayner was not strong emo Ugh to walk;
so she and her husband drove there in
the brougham. while Haidee and went
on foot. We started before them, and
Mr.. Rayner was carefully helping his
wife out of the carriage a. we got to the
gate. When she had alighted we all
vent into the little church.
There was q square family pew just
in front of ours, which as empty when
we took our seats; but, when / rose
from my knees, / found fixed upon me,
with not very friendly stare, the eyes
of girl two or three years older than
myself, whom recognized a. the own
or of the voice which had said of me.
Don't YOU know =" comes from the
house on the marsh?" BY her side,
therefore also facing me, was the
younger sister. with whom had talked.
As for me, felt that hated them
both, and was glad when the gentle
man who was evidently their father
changed his position so that he almost
hid them from my sight. Next to him
sat stout lady, who wore black silk
mantle covered with lace and beads and
. white bonnet trimmed with yellow
bows and unlikely clusters Of roses. My
heart sunk curiously when / caught
sikkt d the third person in the row, ct
- further end of the pew. Itwas Mr..
IAnrsnce Rcade, my friend Of the dog
cart; and l felt As if trusted ally had
suddenly proved to be an officer in the
enemy's camp. Having found myself
in IN uneon1 enial household, had:un-
consciously looked forward to seeing
again, ct some time or other, the only
peE.opI had met, since ] came to Nor
blk0.NhOm NO association q mgs-
terry or melancholy were attached.
And nv 70 meet him with tAos6 hor-
rid gfffs! He was their brother evi-
IDENTITY, for thu, elder hafpoonea him
sharply VIII Aefi sunshade several
times for doing during the service;
but when the sermon began and he
had settiet himself sideways in the cor
ner With The plain intention Of sleeping
through the entire discourse, and the
devout girl made . desperate lufge al
him to rouse him once for all, he quiet
~ took the weapon from her and
kicked It under the seat. I rejoiced al
this, and 20 missed the text, which wa
given out during the struggle.
When the sermon was over, and w
fled out of church, l noticed that old
Mr.. Reade exchanged . few word,
with Mr.. Rayner rather stifny, while
the two girls deliberately turned theil
heads : away from US. But Mr.
Laurence Reade hung back behind thu
rest ID, hiS family, and stopped Z
speak to Haidee, who was holding my
hand. He asked her to give him
kiss, and she refused-and I was very
glad. OK course, It was my duty 70 re
buke her for rudeness; but, instead,
looked carefully the other way ana
pretended not to be aware Of the ittl'
comedy.
"Oh, Haidee, you shouldn't tur1
away from your friends!'' said he, II
his musical voice, with rather more o
grave reproach than the occasion 70
q6ired-to .. child.
At dinner Mr.. Rayner YVES vsr.
severe indeed in his comments upoI
rustic wits and rustic governors, call
ing them sheep and donkeys and othe
things. Then he grew merry an,
made t0ksss about them, and
laug3e& AndV fAliaG IN mo an up
PreQht1t @it&nS, bis 3pirtts rose stil
higferf I'D I 4h(ngbt before Dime
va ejer 6StT had never heard AM
one talk more amusingly. I thinl
Mrs. Rayner made only one remark
and that was when / was furtivel,
wiping some tears Of laughter Srom m,
eyes, she asked me:
do you case. TO- r. to ,churoh TIL
afternoon, Miss Christie?''
I suppose l looked rather snubbed
for NJ Rsyrer broke in:
Poor girl, how frightened you lool
at the thought! Know then, Mis-
Christie, that it is not one of the condi
tons Of residence under this moist bu
hospitehle root that you should trudG
backward and forward to church q
Sunday, with intervals of pious medits
ton. We never 60 ourselves NOR
than once. -.-.-.--------- -
But l had quickly made up my min
that l had better 70. Indeed, like
going 70 church; and. even If I had NO
acquired the taste already, the dullnea
Of the Sunday before-which- l ha
spent in the draWhg-room with Mn
Rayner and Haidee would have mad
me leveiA-Se I Sid / shc1ld like {
60. - - Dece was - a1DoEnoon O.
vge q Ge1l, NJ. 1syner told n
the way to church at Gullingborough
the next parish. which was not far OF
It was . sultry summer a4tsrnoon
but to be alone and out Of the sombe
atmospheFs Of tie Alder6, wasa relief
IPaesed 8 PARK. Among the trees Q
which I saw . big square white house
IN American ch&r STOOD On tho rgraa
In the shade, and . young man il
light suit, with cravat hanginl
loose, was lying at full length In il
He Ind > cigar n his mouth, . book il
his hand and ON : rustic table was
half empty glass containing som
liquid With ice in II. / only glancel
that way but recognised the gentlemal
- Mr.. Laurence Reade. He saw me
think, for he startef up and couxhed
but was looking the other wy, and
thought best not to hear him. As
turned the angle Of the park, l glance,
again 1t the white house, and saw
with little surprise, Mr.. Reside run
ming toward +
l got 70 church in very rood time
and, being given . seat in the chancel
l could wstGA the country people I
thsy Md h, md a3dst before servic
began, Mr.. Laurence Reade, havin,
exchanged his light suit for church
AAy-